Return safety window envelope with concealed carrier-opener



Nov. 23, 1943. c. M. GRESSER RETURN SAFETY WINDOW ENVELOPES WITH CONGEALED CARRIER-OPENERS I5 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR ME ME: Emsszx' BY Filed June 9, 1959 M yaw.)

ATTORNEYS.

QPENERS Nov. 23, 1943. c. M. GRESSER FETY WINDOW ENVELOPES WITH CONOEALED CARRIER RETURN SA Filed June 9, 1939 S'Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 RETURN SAFETY WINDOW ENVELOPE WITH CONCEALED CARRIER-OPENER Camille Marc Grosser, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 9, 1939, Serial No. 278,180

1 Claim.

This invention relates to envelopes and enclosed openers and carriers therein.

An important object of this invention is to provide improvements in envelopes and means for opening the same and particularly to envelopes having carriers or opening cards therein specifically designed to quickly open and withdraw the contents of the envelope. Another important object of this invention is to provide novel openers which are designed to serve as return envelopes, reply cards, advertising mediums and article carrying devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel shaped envelope and cutter cards insertable therein respectively provided with window openings and displays for advertising purposes.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claim and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a back side of an ordinary letter size envelope illustrating in dotted outline a one piece opener contained therein,

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a one piece opener for an end-charging envelope shown in dotted outline,

Fig. 3 illustrates an envelope of the type of Fig. 2 in unsealed condition showing a one piece opener of the type illustrated in Fig. 2 in position to be sealed within the envelope,

Fig. 4 is an envelope in half-open condition showing an opener of the type illustrated in Fig. 2 in the process of severing the end flap of the envelope, 1

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of opener for envelopes composed of two separate pieces and the position the pieces assume with respect to one another on an end-charging typeof envelope shown in dotted outline,

Fig. 6 illustrates a small sealed envelope containing a two piece opener of the type shown in Fig. 5,

Figs. '7 and 8 are side and sectional views respectively of a reply postcard shaped to open envelopes in which it is enclosed,

Figs. 9 and 10 are side and sectional views respectively of an envelope opener card provided with apocket,

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and sectional views respectively of a booklet carrier shaped with inclined cutting edges for opening envelopes in which it is enclosed,

Figs. 13 and 14 are side and sectional views respectively of a doubly folded character shaped to open envelopes in which it is enclosed,

Fig. 15 is a side view,

Figs. 16 and 1'7 are longitudinal and cross-sectional views respectively of a reply carrier formed of a plurality of folded parts,

Fig. 18 is an outline of a template used for forming one or more of the folded carriers illustrated in Fig. 15,

Fig. 19 illustrates a modified form of envelope with the front and back side in unfolded condi tion illustrating a new form of opener tongue,

Fig. 20 is a view of the envelope in Fig. 19 but in closed sealed condition,

Fig. .21 is a view of the envelope in Fig. 20 showing the manner in which the cutter .card functions to open the same,

Fig.22 is a back view of an ordinary letter size envelope illustrating the use of the two piece opener of the type shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 23 is a detail view of an opener tongue employed in connection with envelopes using two piece openers.

Fig. 24 illustrates a modification wherein the envelope opener is of two-piece construction.

An especially desirable combination envelope and opener therefor is illustrated in various forms in Figs. 1 to 4. It comprises in general an envelope having a flap scalable to the body of the envelope proper. Insertable in the envelope before sealing is an opener or carrier having an opening tongue and slanting edges leading away from the tongue and forming cutting edges as will be more particularly described hereinafter. The opening tongue is so formed and used in the envelope that it will project a short distance under the sealing flap providing a pulling tab which will allow the receiver of the envelope to open it by gripping the tab and pulling the tongue outwardly tearing the sealed flap along lines substantially coextensive with the tongue. Upon further pulling efiort the opener will be withdrawn from the envelope and the inclined cutting edges thereof will tear through the remaining sealed portions of the flap to fully open the envelope.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 in the drawings, various types of envelopes and cutter cards embodying the features described above are shown. In Fig. 1, an ordinar letter size envelope is illustrated at I'll. It is provided with the usual sealing flap l2. Inside the envelope is a carrier or cutter card indicated in dotted outline at M. The cutter card is of a size to fit within the envelope with no or Very little play. The central portion of the card projects toward the sealed end of the envelope and terminates in a tongue [6 which is described in connection with Fig. 1.

shown folded under the flap l2 in Fig. 1. The tongue on the cutter card is of such a length that when the card is fully inserted within the envelope and the flap sealed down the tip of the tongue will project from under the flap as indicated in full line. The tongue l6 forms an integral part of the cutter card 14, and the size and proportions of the cutter card and the tongue bear such a relation to the envelope used so that when fully inserted therein and the envelope sealed the tip of the tongue will be exposed for card is equal to or less than the envelope.

engagement by the fingers of the person desiring.

to open the envelope.

In Figs. 2 to 4, the cutter card or carrier is similarly constructed for projectingthe tip f the opener tongue from under the sealedflap of the envelope. filled and opened from one end. In Fig. 2 the envelope is illustrated in dotted outline; in Fig. 3 in full lines. The cutter card used with the envelope may be of a size to extend the full length of the envelope as the card in Fig. 2 or may be shorter than the length of the envelope as the card 22 in Fig. 3. In both instances the opening tongues, indicated at 24 in Fig. 2 and 26 in Fig. 3, have a length greater thanthe width of the flap 2B and will, when folded under the flap, project beyond the flap similarly to the tongue 7 Both cutter cards and22 areprovided with slanting edges 30 and 32 respectively. between the opener tongue and the main body portion ofthe cards. These slanting edges will sever the sealed flap of the envelope along its line of connection to the body" o'f'the. envelope when the 'cutter card is pulled from the envelope by the opener tongue. Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the parts when the cutter card is inserted in the envelope before theflap is sealed down. 'The tongue 26 is bent backwards at the envelope edge andoverlying the envelopes back portion it is pasted in this position when the flap is sealed down.

A similar form of envelope and cutter carrier is illustrated in Fig. 4. The envelope 34 contains a cutter card 36 having a tongue which when the flap is sealed down is folded thereunder and projects a short distance from under the flap. In Fig. 4, the tongue is shown just after it has been torn through the flap and the cutter card has been withdrawn 2. short distance. Further withdrawal of the card will cause the inclined edges thereof to completelv sever the flap and open the envelope to inspection,

7 The receiver of any one of the envelopes previously described will open the envelope by holding the same in one hand and with two fingers of the other hand pull the tongue toward the nearest end of the envelo e, tearing the material of the flap pasted over the tongue. Then upon further pulling effort the slanting edges of the cutter card enclosed in the en elope will be drawn at. 7 It carries an end flap 4B which is sealable In Figs. 2 and 3 the envelope [8 is.

at 41; its end flap at 43.

to the back side of the envelope. The cutter card or carrier used to open the envelope is shown in full lines at 42. The converging side sections 4444 form knife edges as heretofore described for severing the end flap along its line of connection to the envelope body. In this modification, however, the overall length of the cutter No portion of the cutter card projects beyond the end of the envelope as in the previously described embodiment of the invention.

To initially open the sealed end flap 5. separate tongue element 46 is provided. This tongue is secured directly to the end flap transversely to its longitudinal dimension. It is a little longer than the width of the end flap so that when sealed thereunder, the tip will project as in the previously described figures. The tongue is shown as a separate element in Fig. 23. All but the tip of the tongue may be coated on one side with an adhesive for securing it to the underside of the flap. In the finished product the opener tongue should be in line with the central projecting part of the cutter card formed by the slanting edges 44-44. J

An envelope of the same kind but smaller in size is illustrated in Fig. 6. It is in sealed condition. The body of the envelope. is indicated The outlines of the sealed cutter card and tongue are indicated by dotted lines at 50 and 52 respectively, To open the envelope the projecting end of the tongue is grasped and pulled back; This will tear an opening in the flap exposing the central pointed top ofthe cutter card. If this central pointed top section of the cutter card is now grasped between two fingers and pulled, it will draw the main body portion of the cutter card out of the envelope causing the inclined edges 44-44 to knife through the remaining sealed portions of the flap. An ordinary letter size envelope employing this means for opening the same, is illustrated in Fig. 24.

The carriers or cutter cards used in the previously described embodiments of the invention may be of various different kinds. Several novel cutter cards are illustrated in Figs. '7 to 14 inclusive. Greeting cards, return postal cards, advertising matter and other articles may be used as carriers with slanting or inclined cutting edges.

In Fig. '7 a reply post-card shaped as a cutter opener is illustrated. The body portion of the post-card is indicated at 54; the opener portion at 56.. The latter is separated from the body of "the post-card by a line of weakness 58. type of carrier is intended to be used with an This end-charging envelope of the type previously described. The slanting edges on the opener part 56 will serve as the cutting edges for tearing through the end flap of the envelope as previously described. Instructions may be printed on the opener portion 56 requesting the user to the medium of narrow marginal flaps 62 which allow the pocket to be expanded to receive the article.

A booklet carrier is shown in Fig. 11 consisting of folded sheet material 64 fastened between two carriers 66. The slanting opener portion 68 of these carriers are fastened together as shown in Fig. 1 2.

A two-sided or doubly folded carrier is represented in Fig. 13. It comprises sheet material first folded transversely so that the bottom edges reach theline indicated at T and then folded longitudinally along the central line to sandwich the first folded portion thereb'etween. The two sides of the carrier are preformed with converging side portions which when folded ubon one another provides cutting edges shown at 72.

In Figs. 15 to 18 there is illustrated a carrier form of sheet material folded several times longitudinally upon itself as indicated in Fig. 1'7. The open state of the sheet can be understood from the template therefor illustrated in Fig. 18. Two of the longitudinal sections are provided with triangular portions M which in the folded state of the carrier are coextensive with one another to form the slanting knife edges for cutting through the sealed flap in the manner previously described. The folded carrier may consist of sections providing a return envelope and a printed order form sealable in the return envelope.

Various kinds of folded reply envelopes of the type shown in Figs. 15 to 18 may be used. One folded envelope may be of the type previously described and illustrated in full lines in Fig. 18 having triangular end sections 14 forming the means for opening the envelope in which it is first transmitted. Another form of reply envelope may be like the first but without envelope opening portions. The third type may be like the first but provided with a detachable flap indicated in dotted lines at the left of Fig. 18 instead of an opener portion. When detached, this flap may be used by a customer for attaching the envelope to articles to be sent in the mails, such as a book or magazine. All three forms of folded reply envelopes when returned to the original sender can be severed into their separate sections at the time of opening the envelope. This may be done by knifing through one side of the envelope and also along one or more folds of the sections therewithin. Cutting through the folded edges of the envelope in this manner will detach the order forms from the envelopes without damaging the contents of the envelope.

A novel form of envelope opener is illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20. Instead of providing the cutter card with an opener tongue or securing separate pieces to the scalable flap as previously described, the tongue may form an integral part of the envelope. In Figs. 19 and 20 the opener i6 forms an integral part of the envelopes back portion 78. The front side of the envelope carries an end flap Bil similar to those previously described. The tongue 76 has a length slightly greater than the width of the flap 89. When the two sides of the envelope are brought together (they are shown in open unfolded state in Fig. 19) and the flap sealed down, the tongue will project a slight distance from under the flap as indicated in Fig. 22. Inserted into an envelope of this type is a cutter card such as that shown at 82 having slanting cutting edges. When the tongue 16 is ripped back exposing the pointed end of the cutter card, the latter can be pulled from the envelope causing the cutting edges thereof to sever the flap in the manner previously described.

The main body portions of the envelope opening cards or carriers may be shaped in various ways. They may be pierced with holes or otherwise trimmed to lighten their weight. The cutter cards or carriers may be cut and trimmed, if desired, to resemble the senders label or trademark. An important feature of the invention is the manner of shaping the carriers to reduce the resistance imposed by the envelope to the withdrawal of the carriers therefrom. This is accomplished by projecting the extreme outer end of the slanting cutting edges beyond the main body portion of the carrier as indicated at 8 3 in Figs. 7, 9, 11 and in Fig. 5. In the last instance both ends of the cutter card project beyond the central side sections thereof.

The envelopes may be provided with windows in the customary manner. The dimensions of these windows may be designed to enhance a design displayed upon the envelope. Novel window openings cost practically no more than envelopes with conventional shaped window openings but the former, if properly designed, will serve as a compliment to any design on the envelope. An example is shown in Fig. 3. The circular window opening is especially designed to disclose a map display. In Fig. 6 the outlines of the window openings are made to resemble a trade-mark and to harmonize with advertising matter printed on the concealed carrier and disclosed therethrough. The window opening on the front or back side of the envelope may be cut to resemble the senders trade mark, label, coat of arms, emblem, manufactured article or otherwise, or may be shaped to give a special significance to the material displayed through the window.

Two or more window openings may be provided on one or both sides of the envelope, the shape of which, if designed in harmony with two or more centers of interest or color decorations displayed through the openings will create a new appealing design at relatively low cost. Illustrated or colored transparent material can be effectively used to cover the window openings. One example of a decorative multi-window envelope is shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21. Illustrated transparent material 86 is used to cover the small openings 88 on the envelopes back portion to obtain a particular design in combination with the display printed upon the concealed carrier and exposed to view through the window openings. Thearrangement of the window openings and the color used can be made to represent a trade-mark or other symbol for advertising purposes.

In the form of the envelope illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, the transparent sheet 86 is pasted to narrow side and bottom flaps 82 and 94 on the front side of the envelope. The back side 18 of the envelope is now folded over and pasted to the back sheet of the transparent sheet. The transparent sheet is provided with small spaced flaps fi%36 which will be folded down under the end flap 8%, the space between the small flaps being reserved for the opener tongue 15 on the back side portion of the envelope. The cutter card for this type of envelope is received between the transparent sheet and the front side of th envelope. The transparent sheet may contain an opaque colored spot indicated at 91 which will be exposed to view through a circular hole 93 on the back side. Color on the cutting card will be seen through the arcuate openin s,

99 in the back side around the circular opening presenting a pleasing display;

I claim: j i

The combination with an envelope having a body portion opened on one side and a flap attached thereto and sealable to the body portion to close the opening, of an enclosure for the envelope in the form of a fiat card received within the body portion of the envelope and provided inside the body portion on the side thereof adjacent to said opening with oppositely inclined cutting edges converging toward one another and terminating in a narrow tongue-shaped element forming an extension to the card, said element bearing against the underside of said flap and having a length slightly greater than the portion of the flap against which it bears so that the tip of the element projects from under the flap when the latter is folded down'and sealed to the body portion of the envelope, the side edges of said element extending substantially parallel to one another throughout that portion of the length of the element which is covered by the flap when the latter is sealed down.

CAMILLE MARC GRESSER. 

